Islamophobia

Florida man accused of setting fire targeting Muslims

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL (WPTV/CNN) - A Florida man is in custody after police say he tried to burn a store he thought was Muslim-owned.

Police say Richard Lloyd, 64, was mad at Arabs for "what they are doing in this Middle East" and that he wanted to "run them out of the country."

A dumpster at the Met Mart convenience store in Port St. Lucie was set on fire Friday morning. After being read his rights, police said Lloyd admitted to setting the fire and admitted to suffering from a mental illness.

Lloyd said he was, "doing his part for America."

Police will conduct a mental health evaluation and the state attorney's office will determined whether it was an intentional hate crime.

Quoting a sheriff, the Palm Beach Post reported the store's owners are not Muslim, and are of Indian descent.